St. Louis County Primary Election 2010 Sample Ballot
Some notes on the Aug. 10 Primary Election:
* This is an election in which you have to choose a party. You can’t, for example, vote for a Republican governor and a DFL congressman. On the partisan side of the ballot you have to vote for the same party in all races. That’s how it works, whether you like it or not.
* Your party choices are Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Independence. Yes, there are some candidates representing other parties — Constitution, Green, Ecology Democracy, Resource and Grassroots — but those candidates do not have any opposition within their parties and therefore move on to the General Election automatically.
* If you live in Duluth, you won’t see the County Commissioner races that are listed on the sample ballot — those are for districts outside of Duluth. Pretty much all of the Duluth-relevant nonpartisan county races have only two or one candidate, so you won’t get to vote on them until November. The exception is the Sixth District Court Judge 11 race, which has eight candidates.
(more…)
Duluth Waits for Shane, Sarah and Josh
Thursday, July 29 | 10pm | Pizza Lucé
Local musicians perform the music of Tom Waits to benefit the hikers detained in Iran.
The lineup will include Coyote, Bill and Kate Isles, Rachael Kilgour, Tony Bennett, the Tico Three, Dave Mehling, James Moors, Jim Hall, Charity Huot and the Mark Anderson Trio.
Cover charge: $10, which goes to Free the Hikers.
On July 31 it will be a full year that Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal have been detained in Iran with no charges brought against them. Shane and Josh have been sharing a cell in Evin’s Prison, but Sarah has been held in solitary confinement.
Bauer is a Minnesotan. His sister and brother-in-law live in Duluth, and he also has family in Shakopee and Pine City.
A protest walk and benefit will be held on July 31. More info on that in a future post.
Wildcats in Duluth’s Lester Park?
Last weekend, while enjoying a quiet rest on Lester River about one mile up from the main park, I heard what sounded like a cat hissing, but at 20 times the volume of what you’d hear from a house cat. There were five or six of these “roars” followed by a rustling in the under brush at which point I got the hell out of there. I have heard of bobcat sightings in the area but wonder if it might have been something larger, say a mountain lion? Has anyone else had a similar experience or even a sighting?
Treasure Adventure Music Schedule
International Explorations is bringing its Treasure Adventure to Duluth July 24 through Aug. 8, coinciding with the Tall Ships Festival. Along with the display of $8 million in artifacts and general fun for the whole family, there will be music every night. Here’s the lineup:
7/24, 6pm – 4 on the Floor
7/25, 6pm – Mark Anderson Trio
7/26, 6pm – John Heino & Centerville
7/27, 6pm – Lake City Smokin’ Section
7/28, 6pm – Blue Collar Blues Club
7/29, 7:30pm – Peter Provost, Thunder Brothers
7/30, 7:30pm – Michael Bean, Brandon Scott Sellner
7/31, 7:30pm – Michael Bean, Thunder Bros., the Acceleratii,
the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank
8/1, 7:30pm – Michael Bean, Mark Anderson Trio, Teague Alexy
8/2, 6pm – Blue Collar Blues Club
8/3, 6pm – Blue Collar Blues Club
8/4, 6pm – Blue Collar Blues Club
8/5, 6pm – Cars & Trucks
8/6, 6pm – Cars & Trucks
8/7, 6pm – Brandon Scott Sellner
8/8, 6pm – The Acceleratii
Treasure Adventure takes place on Kelley Island — the former location of the LaFarge Cement terminal. It’s next to Bayfront Festival Park at Railroad Street and Eighth Avenue. Admission is $7; $3 for children under age 12.
Duluth touch or flag football
Is there a men’s adult two-hand touch or flag football league in Duluth? If so, please let me know … thanks a lot!
No Bad Apples
Members of RWDSU-UFCW Local 220 in Williamson, NY, have been trying to negotiate a contract with Mott’s, a subsidiary of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. The company is looking to slash wages by as much as $1.50 an hour for each and every employee, and is trying to take away the workers’ pension plan. There is no economic necessity for what the company is seeking to do. It is a profitable, growing company.
(more…)
Gravel time
A friend pointed me to an article in the Wall Street Journal on communities that are replacing paved roads with gravel in order to save money. Which led me to think… Duluth really ought to de-pave Hawk Ridge and Seven Bridges Roads as soon as possible.
I think it was only in the last ten years or so that the city splashed a half-assed layer of asphalt on those roads–within a year or two, they had deteriorated to the point where the “pavement” was bumpier than the gravel it was supposed to cover. By now, those roads are a barely navigable moonscape. Judging by the condition of various residential streets and important thoroughfares, I anticipate the city will probably have sufficient funds to properly re-pave Hawk Ridge and Seven Bridges about ten minutes before hell freezes over–so why not admit defeat on this one? Would it be all that expensive to run a grader up and down there every week or two in the summer? Is there some other compelling reason to stick with the mess that’s up there now?
Duluth Plaza Super One … Is it just me?
I shop at the Co-op, Cub, and Super One, depending on what I need and where I am at the time. I’ve noticed that the Plaza Super One has much higher prices and lower quality produce than the other Super One stores. There are also fewer healthy product alternatives and generic alternatives at this location. And each time I go there, at least one of the items I buy does not ring up for the advertised sale price.
The cynical side of me wonders if the owners might be consciously taking advantage of the Plaza’s customer base, which appears to be of a lower income than that of their other stores — many of whom don’t have a car to use to get to another store.
Does anyone else share this perception or experience, or is it just me? Because lately I’ve developed a new, highly cynical theory on the human race: People are not essentially good, but they are not inherently evil either; rather, they are prone to do the wrong thing (or the lazy thing), especially if they think no one is watching or that they won’t get caught.
Canine Heart Sounds, Dirty Horse and the 4onthefloor at R.T. Quinlan’s
The elusive progressive/art rockers Canine Heart Sounds will be joined with the pontoon rock of Dirty Horse and the 4/4 time signatures of 4 on the Floor at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon on Saturday, July 24. Music starts at 10 p.m. and there will be a $3 cover. Rock!
For those of you who may be confused, we had to switch the date from 7/23 to 7/24. Hope to see you all out!
Fundraiser for People with Disabilities for Change
Carmody Irish Pub, 308 E. Superior St., Duluth
Tuesday, July 20 from 6-9 pm.
There will be music, belly dancing, and silent auction items. (more…)
Duluth area wedding and reception
My sister is getting married Feb. 26. We are having trouble locating a venue that can accommodate approximately 300 people, let us cater our own reception and allow music and alcohol. Does anyone have any suggestions for possible venues?
Cloquet — it doesn’t stink any more
I do hope these people sell their house soon. But if they don’t, I hope they keep posting entertaining ads on Craigslist. I think this one is their second installment.
$189,900 Consider Cloquet
It doesn’t stink any more (best home for sale in the Duluth area)
If they can’t sell their house with ads like this, there’s just no justice in the world.
A reminder that fire is hot
Despite the distance between this West Duluth garage and house, the heat from the burning garage melted the siding on the house.
Art Auction
In an attempt to actually make money from the art we create, we invite you to join us for a fun evening of art, snacks, dress up clothes, and dance parties.
The art will be cheap and priced to sell, with many pieces starting as low as $5. Now is your chance to own work from these special artists:
Jennie Lennick
Ginny Maki
Suzanne Wyss
Dave Moreria
Sarah Worley
Morgan Pease
Adam Rosenthal
Chris Hagen
Savannah Villa
Maria Johnson
Michael Beachy
Katherine Lamb
Brent Erickson
Sean Elmquist
Rob Kaiser-Schatzlein
Melanie Sternberg
Brian Ring
Marisa Ring
Niki Burger
Sophie Gray
…and probably more!
Also! music by Red Mountain!
Please come, bring your friends and enemies, and support young artists!
Bat Girl & the Walrus
Has anyone else been following their romance in the personals of the Reader? It’s better than watching daytime soaps! The Walrus sounds like quite the romantic who is actively pursuing his love, Bat Girl. Who are they? What’s the back story? There was no ad in this week’s Reader from them but I am a total fan.
Turbo Rathvon + Words to a Film Score + Manheat at R.T. Quinlan’s July 23
Friday, July 23
R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon
Live music featuring:
Music starts at 10 p.m.
$5 cover.
Do you need a bag for that?
My dog happens to be the least alpha dog there is. He barks rarely. In fact when I got him from Animal Allies I wondered if he had been de-barked because he didn’t bark for 3 days. This morning he barked at something out the front door window.
I went over to look, thinking it could be a delivery person or something. Turns out it is someone who let their dog poop in my front yard and then was walking away from it, not picking it up. I turned on my Minnesota, passive aggressive self, “Excuse me do you need a bag or shovel to help pick that up? I’ve got a trash can right here you can put it in.” (point to trowel and trashcan literally feet from where she is).
Reminder dog owners: pick it up. If you happen to come by my house, feel free to use the doggie trash can perched in the front yard. That’s what it is there for.
Bathing in Fairmount Park’s Boys’ Pool
This old postcard was sent 100 years ago today. Someone named Mabelle mailed it to Mrs. W. F. Smith of Minong, Wis. It was postmarked in Duluth, Minn., July 16, 1910, 3 p.m. (more…)
There’s always something in the fine print
After hearing about all the great berry-picking this year, I decided today to go on a mission to pick wild blueberries for the first time. I headed up onto forest backroads way north of Two Harbors, in search of a good patch to harvest, and then of course keep as a closely held secret. Miles off the pavement, in the middle of nowhere on a rutted, rocky, bumpy single-lane track, I came around a curve and saw this…
The New Duluth
Duluth’s own Mayor Ness graces the July 2010 cover of Minnesota Business Magazine.
Article// The New Duluth